Last edit by: JDiver
NOTE: The nine low MTOW Pratt & Whitney PW4168 engine equipped Airbus Industrie A330-300s had been scheduled for retirement (returned to lessor at end of lease) by late 2018 2021 now due to poor "fit" in the AA fleet (link). (The A330-200s, with more compatible Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines, will continue, however.)
Premium Economy and extended Main Cabin Extra are not expected to be installed on the A330-300, at this time. Its unpredictable if they might be refutted with the extended retirement dates.
Link to Combined AA Fleet page
For the specific thread about the Zodiac Envoy Business seat, please see LUS A330 "Envoy" Lie Flat All Aisle Access Business Seats (master thread)
Also see the older, archived thread on Envoy seating on the A330:
A330-200 Envoy Suites
Link to Seatguru for AA A330-300
Envoy / Business:
* Rows 1 to 7, 4 across, private "suites"
* Seats A and H have windows and aisle access, angle out toward windows
* Seats C and F are both in the middle, angle in toward center (no windows)
* In seat entertainment with personally selectable programming
* Empower 110 VAC / 150 VA and USB power
Economy:
* Rows 8 through 40
* Configured in a 2-4-2 pattern (A and H are windows with B/G beside them)
* Exits at row 25
* In seat entertainment with personally selectable programming
* Empower 110 VAC / 150 VA
New Livery (AA-style) of the A330-300:
A333 in New Livery
Link to archived older posts (back to 2011) from this thread.
Wikipost instructions: signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost to update; wiki contents may be printed by using the (lower right wiki corner)
Premium Economy and extended Main Cabin Extra are not expected to be installed on the A330-300, at this time. Its unpredictable if they might be refutted with the extended retirement dates.
Link to Combined AA Fleet page
For the specific thread about the Zodiac Envoy Business seat, please see LUS A330 "Envoy" Lie Flat All Aisle Access Business Seats (master thread)
Also see the older, archived thread on Envoy seating on the A330:
A330-200 Envoy Suites
Link to Seatguru for AA A330-300
Envoy / Business:
* Rows 1 to 7, 4 across, private "suites"
* Seats A and H have windows and aisle access, angle out toward windows
* Seats C and F are both in the middle, angle in toward center (no windows)
* In seat entertainment with personally selectable programming
* Empower 110 VAC / 150 VA and USB power
Economy:
* Rows 8 through 40
* Configured in a 2-4-2 pattern (A and H are windows with B/G beside them)
* Exits at row 25
* In seat entertainment with personally selectable programming
* Empower 110 VAC / 150 VA
New Livery (AA-style) of the A330-300:
A333 in New Livery
Link to archived older posts (back to 2011) from this thread.
Wikipost instructions: signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost to update; wiki contents may be printed by using the (lower right wiki corner)
AA Airbus A330-300 / 333 [master thread]
#106
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Bonvoy Silver, BA, AA, FlyingBlue, IberiaPlus,Wyndham Rewards
Posts: 141
I for one hope they don't add premium economy to this bird or MCE. I had the pleasure of flying one of these for the first time in regular coach seat 9J, and I was blown away by the comfort and generous pitch of at least 32". The friendly and attentive CLT based crew didn't hurt, either.
Based upon my observation, when AA goes in and adds either MCE or PE, they take pitch away from regular coach. It's like the plan is not to offer an improved product over the existing coach, but to worsen the existing coach product so people will pay to avoid it.
Based upon my observation, when AA goes in and adds either MCE or PE, they take pitch away from regular coach. It's like the plan is not to offer an improved product over the existing coach, but to worsen the existing coach product so people will pay to avoid it.
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,301
I for one hope they don't add premium economy to this bird or MCE. I had the pleasure of flying one of these for the first time in regular coach seat 9J, and I was blown away by the comfort and generous pitch of at least 32". The friendly and attentive CLT based crew didn't hurt, either.
Based upon my observation, when AA goes in and adds either MCE or PE, they take pitch away from regular coach. It's like the plan is not to offer an improved product over the existing coach, but to worsen the existing coach product so people will pay to avoid it.
Based upon my observation, when AA goes in and adds either MCE or PE, they take pitch away from regular coach. It's like the plan is not to offer an improved product over the existing coach, but to worsen the existing coach product so people will pay to avoid it.
#108
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Bonvoy Silver, BA, AA, FlyingBlue, IberiaPlus,Wyndham Rewards
Posts: 141
I can't speak to the 332's, but I do know AA has recently deemed 30" as appropriate pitch for mainline and rj domestic operations. I used to be reasonably comfortable on their crj700 and E175 in regular coach. When AA sent these off to have more mce added, the result was 30" pitch in regular coach. AA is similarly retrofitting their 738 fleet this way, to match the abysmal 737-8 max config. No bueno for regular coach flyers lacking status.
#109
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 158
Is that what they did with the 332s? They removed one row of coach seats for the three rows of PE. And I think the leftover pitch was used to create the MCE seats. I don't think they touched anything between doors 3 L/R and doors 4 L/R. Does anyone have the answer to this?
With the A333s staying in the fleet longer, Im surprised they arent adding PE or at least a dedicated MCE section, but maybe its just not worth it at this point. So we can enjoy regular Y on that plane being the same comfort as MCE on newer planes.
#110
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,107
I doubt they add it. The overhead to do doesn’t seem like it would be worth the trouble in the end. Plus they could end up walking their anticipated retirement date back, which would make it even more difficult to justify the expense.
And it’s not as simple as, “add 28 PE seats and get $1800 a pop.” Those seats take up space, and that space has to come from somewhere. So if the space came from Y, and PE was a 50% premium over Y, those profits shrink. Further, there would be fewer PE seats than the number of Y seats which were replaced, thus an even slimmer margin.
So whether or not it would sell well is not relevant. The amount of money to be made over the cost to do make the change is the key. And even without knowing numbers and only knowing a 3 year (or less) operational period, then it really doesn’t seem like it would justify the cost.
And it’s not as simple as, “add 28 PE seats and get $1800 a pop.” Those seats take up space, and that space has to come from somewhere. So if the space came from Y, and PE was a 50% premium over Y, those profits shrink. Further, there would be fewer PE seats than the number of Y seats which were replaced, thus an even slimmer margin.
So whether or not it would sell well is not relevant. The amount of money to be made over the cost to do make the change is the key. And even without knowing numbers and only knowing a 3 year (or less) operational period, then it really doesn’t seem like it would justify the cost.
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,301
I doubt they add it. The overhead to do doesn’t seem like it would be worth the trouble in the end. Plus they could end up walking their anticipated retirement date back, which would make it even more difficult to justify the expense.
And it’s not as simple as, “add 28 PE seats and get $1800 a pop.” Those seats take up space, and that space has to come from somewhere. So if the space came from Y, and PE was a 50% premium over Y, those profits shrink. Further, there would be fewer PE seats than the number of Y seats which were replaced, thus an even slimmer margin.
So whether or not it would sell well is not relevant. The amount of money to be made over the cost to do make the change is the key. And even without knowing numbers and only knowing a 3 year (or less) operational period, then it really doesn’t seem like it would justify the cost.
And it’s not as simple as, “add 28 PE seats and get $1800 a pop.” Those seats take up space, and that space has to come from somewhere. So if the space came from Y, and PE was a 50% premium over Y, those profits shrink. Further, there would be fewer PE seats than the number of Y seats which were replaced, thus an even slimmer margin.
So whether or not it would sell well is not relevant. The amount of money to be made over the cost to do make the change is the key. And even without knowing numbers and only knowing a 3 year (or less) operational period, then it really doesn’t seem like it would justify the cost.
#112
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, AMX Plat, Carlson Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 188
A330 Usually boards via L2?
I am taking the A330 PHL-ATH this fall in business and am trying to choose a seat with a quick exit on arrival. Does this plane usually use the L1 door or the L2 door to load/unload? Would sitting in the front of the cabin or the rear give me the quickest exit?
Thanks in advance for replies!.
Thanks in advance for replies!.
Last edited by MSPpete; Jul 17, 2018 at 8:46 am
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,023
I am taking the A330 PHL-ATH this fall in business and am trying to choose a seat with a quick exit on arrival. Does this plane usually use the L1 door or the L2 door to load/unload? Would sitting in the front of the cabin or the rear give me the quickest exit?
Thanks in advance for replies!.
Thanks in advance for replies!.
#114
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 24
Airbus 330-300 PHL LHR
I'm going to try to book FF coach miles for two tickets PHL to LHR for the end of July 2019 as soon as my travel date becomes available. The latest which now appears is July 1st. I've done a couple of dummy bookings on the latest flights now available for booking and they show MCE bulkhead seats 8 G and H, on a 330-300.
I've seen the comments on the 330-200 which suggest that the bulkhead seats on that plane start in Row 9 and are good seats with decent legroom.
Any advice/experience about these seats (or other recommended MCE seats) on the 330-300?
Thanks!
I've seen the comments on the 330-200 which suggest that the bulkhead seats on that plane start in Row 9 and are good seats with decent legroom.
Any advice/experience about these seats (or other recommended MCE seats) on the 330-300?
Thanks!
#115
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,455
330 row 9
AA Airbus A330-300 / 333 [master thread]
(eta: I don't believe the 300's are getting PE so 8 would in fact be the bulkhead. I personally like 8G & H)
Last edited by alien; Aug 6, 2018 at 9:59 am
#117
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STL
Programs: AA
Posts: 167
I'm actually wondering the same thing. It is also right across from the lavatories, however, with extra legroom, it may be an ideal spot for a family of 4. Anyone have any experience?
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,023
I'm in 25D on a LHR-PHL flight coming up soon. The other few MCE seats on this plane (A333) have not cleared up by people changing, upgrading, etc. so it's either I take this one, which I've paid for, or an aisle seat on either side of the plane. I'm also wondering how they'll treat the MCE alcohol benefit.
#119
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Gteborg Sweden
Programs: SPG GOLD / BA GOLD/Club Carlson Gold/AMEX Plat.
Posts: 1,043
I'm in 25D on a LHR-PHL flight coming up soon. The other few MCE seats on this plane (A333) have not cleared up by people changing, upgrading, etc. so it's either I take this one, which I've paid for, or an aisle seat on either side of the plane. I'm also wondering how they'll treat the MCE alcohol benefit.
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,023
25D was fine, though an aisle or window would have been more desirable. On long haul flights, the 4 seats on each side of row 25 (A/B/G/H) are blocked off for crew rest. Row 8 looked to be similar in terms of legroom.